Railway-crossing



(-No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. S. J. AUSTIN. RAILWAY CROSSING.

Paterited Dec. 8, 1895.

AMINOTO-LITHQWASHINGTONDE,

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

S. J. AUSTIN, RAILWAY onossnw.

No. 550,772. Patented Dec. 3, 1895.

I E5" WW d ANDREW B GRAHAM.PHOTDUTHQWASNINGTOEQC UNITED STATES PATENT QEETQE.

STEPHEN .I. AUSTIN, OF TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA.

RAILWAY-CROSSING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 550,772, dated December 3, 1895.

Application filed September 5,1895. smart. 561,585. (No modem To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STEPHEN J. AUSTIN, of Terre I-Iaute, in the county of Vigo, State of Indiana, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Railway-Crossin gs, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to that class of crossings where the rails thereof are upon the same level, and it admits the passing of a train upon a continuous track without interference with the rails or rail-sections of the second track. The two tracks may without hinderance cross each other at any angle desired.

Referring to the drawings, Figure I illustrates a plan top view in position for the pass ing of a train over tracks 1. Fig. II isa'side view of the crossing, taken along the line II II of Fig. I. Fig. III is an enlarged plan view, partly broken away, of one of the turn-tables situated at the intersection of the crossing rails. Fig. IV is a side view of the same, taken partly in section. Fig. V is a similar view to the one shown in Fig, I, excepting that the position of the rails is such as to al low for the passing of a train over tracks 2. Fig. VI is a detail side View of the levers for operating the turn-tables, taken along the line VI VI of Fig. V. Fig. VII is a similar view taken along line VII VII of Fig. V.'

Fig. VIII is an enlarged detail top View of a portion of the turn-table and adjoining rail,-

showing the lug for limiting the movement of the turn-table.

1 1 is one pair of inside rail-sections. 2 2

is the second pair crossing the said first pair. A

3 are the turntable plates carrying sections of rails adapted to turn upon pivots l.

5 and 6 are rail-sections secured to the only far enough to place the rail-sections coincident with the main rails by striking the rails 1 and 2.

11 are the pivot connections between .the turn-table plates 3 and the lever-bars 12 and 12, said pivots being situated below the plates 3 and on the inside of the circle described by the length of the rail, allowing a motion similar to that of a parallel rule.

13 is a main lever fulcrumed to a stationary'plate at 14, from which point it divides into two arms 15 and 16. The ends of these arms are pivoted at 17 and 18'to links 19 and 20, the other ends of which in turn are secured at 21 and 22 to the levers 12 and 12, thus forming a compound lever for operating the turn-table. A side view of the relative position of the parts of this compound lever is shown in Figs. VI and VII. 7o

23 are the main rails extending beyond the crossing.

24 are sleepers upon which the structure rests.

The operation of my device is as follows: The tracks being in the position shown in Fig. I, a train is allowed to pass uninterrupted over the rails 1 1, using the section 6, as shown. To allow a train to pass over the cross-line, the lever 13 is pushed forward to the position shown in Fig. V, the eifect of which is to shift the arms 12 and 12, which places the sections 5 coincident with the rails 2. It will be observed that the pivots 4: are not in line with the rails and that the railsections 5 and 6 lie oneither side thereof. This arrangement enables sections 5 to be brought coincident with rails 2 and sections 6 coincident with rails 1. This insures equal wear on all parts. One track may. be used much more than the other, which, if only one pivoted section were used, would soon put the under side of the plate 3, which enables the operation of the plates in any position or angle of crossing.

My invention possesses a further advantage in that it has the pivoted sections on a level with the stationary sections, thereby avoiding the raising or lowering of any parts, and as the levers are all below the track-level and pivoted to the under side of the turntables the entire device may be rigidly secured to sleepers. No parts of intersecting rails are cut away, and the train is allowed to pass over a continuous track without jar or jolt.

The manner of connecting the lever-arms 15 and 16 with bars 12 and 12 by means of intermediate links 19 and 20 enables me to secure not only greater ease of operation but also affords an easy means of adjustment for the movement of said bars 12 and 12. By increasing or decreasing the length of links 19 and I20 the amount of "motion imparted to turn-tables 3 by bars 12 and 12 is accurately regulated.

Vhile the turn-tables are eccentrically pivoted with relation to the intersecting lines of the rails of the crossing-tracks, yet they are concentrically pivoted with relation to themselves or with relation to their respective circumferences, and the rail-sections of each turn-table are respectively located an equal distance from the pivot, so that there is no side or lateral strain upon the pivots of the tables.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a railway crossing, the combination of turn-tables placed at the intersections of the main rails of the crossing tracks and each bearing two rail sections, the pivots of said tables being eccentrically located with relation to the intersecting lines of the main rails of the tracks, and means for turning said tables to bring the rail sections coincident with the main rails of their respective tracks, substantially as set forth.

2. In a railway crossing, the combination of turn-tables placed at the intersections of the main rails of the crossingtracks and each bearing two rail sections, the pivots of said tables being concentrically located with relation to the tables and eccentrically located with relation to the intersecting lines of the main rails of the tracks, and means for turning said tables to bring the rail sections coincident with the main rails of their respective tracks, substantially as set forth.

3. In a railway crossing, the combination of concentrically pivoted turn tables placed at the intersections of the main rails of the crossing tracks, and each bearing a pair of rail sections, one on each side of the pivot of the table; the pivots of said tables being eccentrically located with relation to the intersecting lines of the main rails of the tracks,

substantially as set forth.

4. In a railway crossing, the combination of turn-tables placed at the intersections of the main rails of the crossing tracks, and each bearing two rail sections, and means for turningsaid tables simultaneously, consisting of bars connecting the tables together, an operating lever, and links connecting said leverto said bars, substantially as set forth.

5. I11 a railway crossing, the combination of turn-tables carrying rail sections adapted to be brought coincident with the main rails and means for turning said tables, consisting of connecting bars pivoted to the underside of the turn-tables, and means for moving said bars, substantially as set forth.

6. In a railway crossing, the combination of turn-tables placed at the intersections of the main rails of the crossing tracks, and carrying rail sections and having beads on their under sides, and ground plates carrying said tables and having annular oil chambers in which said beads fit, substantially as set forth.

7. In a railway crossing, the combination of turn tables located at the intersections of the main rails of the crossing tracks and carrying rail sections, and means for turning said tables simultaneously to bring the rail sections in line with their respective main rails, said means consisting of a pair of crossing bars located on. a plane above the base of the main rails, and an operating lever connected to said bars; said bars extending unbroken respectively from one of said tables to the diagonally opposite table, and said bars crossing each other, substantially as set forth.

8. In a railway crossing, the combination of turn tables placed at the intersections of the main rails of the crossing tracks and each bearing two rail sections; said sections being arranged parallel with relation to each other, and the pivots of said tables being located between the rail sections and being eccentrically located with relation to the intersecting lines of the main rails of the tracks, substantially as set forth.

STEPHEN J AUSTIN. In presence of GEo. Lrcnr, J AMES KEENEY. 

